A Breath of the Himalayan Yoga Tradition with Swami Veda Bharati

— with Michele Hebert and Mehrad Nazari, Ph.D.

Imagine being in Rancho La Puerta’s beautiful setting and sharing the pathways through nature with other guests from around the world: a glimpse of saffron-robed scholars walking beneath the oaks…the long, vibrating tone of brass singing bowls… the daily lectures by the man who “is probably the most important teacher of the Yoga Sutras today. His interpretations of the text are the most detailed and comprehensive and the truest to the real and deeper tradition of Raja Yoga…”

Spiritual study and ancient traditions have long been a part of the Rancho La Puerta experience dating back to the first three decades (1940-1960s) when Professor Edmond Szekely lectured daily on mind, body and spirit balance, Cosmology, and spiritual non-denominational paths. Other luminaries joined Professor Szekely over the years, including yoga pioneer Indra Devi and author Aldous Huxley, whose novel “Islands” was inspired in good part by the life of co-founder Deborah Szekely and her childhood in Tahiti. During these weeks, all Ranch guests will have the option of attending Swami Veda’s daily meditation and lectures and some of the yoga classes taught by his outstanding faculty, including our well-known long-time Ranch guest yoga teachers Michele Hebert and Mehrad Nazari, Ph.D.

The atmosphere will be magical—one would have to travel to India to experience something similar, and to have the opportunity to hear Swami Veda’s sensitive and comprehensive explanations of yogic concepts, which are rooted in his extensive traditional training as a Sanskrit scholar. Yet, at the same time, the classic Rancho La Puerta experience continues…a full schedule of hikes, fitness classes, swimming, relaxation, great organic vegetarian meals, cooking classes at La Cocina Que Canta and much more.

Please join us at our regular prices—there will be no extra charges for the several “Himalayan Tradition” lectures and classes each day that are specifically open to all guests—if you choose to partake.

Kirtan | Ragani

Though it involves music, the practice of kirtan is not about musical ability or training, it is about the heart. These ancient chants contain powerful renewing and transformational energies that serve to reconnect us to the Ever-present and Eternal Being that lies within us all. All the mantras, melodies, and instruments are designed to lead us toward this meditative state. Through absorption in the sound, the eternal love that lies within each of our hearts can awaken. Truly, kirtan is for everyone—there are no pre-requisites or requirements to experience the rejuvenative benefits of kirtan

Ragani will also offer:

Yoga of Joints & Glands
A gentle routine of yoga to support flexibility, health, and longevity.

Restorative Yoga
Experience a handful of basic practices for restoration, and enjoy incredible benefits and joys of deep relaxation.

Kirtan Satsang
Enjoy a rare presentation of incredible personal stories from Ragani’s eleven years with the yoga master, Sri Swami Rama. This story-telling hour will share insights and understandings of life with a guru, and ultimately, will serve to remind us of the guiding light that lies within us all. This Satsang will be concluded by a brief meditative experience of kirtan (call-and-response) yoga chant.

Yoga of Sound: A Meditative & Experiential Workshop
Immerse yourself in this relaxing and meditative workshop, and explore the use of both internal and external sounds as a means to reducing stress, establishing greater peace and harmony, and ultimately transforming your life.

An award-winning artist, Ragani leads Milwaukee’s Kirtan with Ragani, the largest independent and ongoing kirtan scene in the US. At age eight, Ragani met the legendary yoga master, Swami Rama, former Shankaracharya of India, who personally trained her in yoga sciences, meditation, and eastern music. Named in OnMilwaukee.com's "100 Milwaukeeans You Need to Know,” Ragani has been featured on FOX & NBC affiliates, in numerous international publications (Recording Magazine, Ode, etc.), and she will be featured in a kirtan documentary movie, scheduled for release in 2010. Ragani is also the featured model for the award-winning book/videos, Yoga: Mastering the Basics.

Yoga and Holistic Health Series | Dale M. Buegel, M.D.

Dr. Buegel integrates 35 years of yoga teaching experience with more than 25 years of complementary medicine practice in a program to facilitate health improvement and stimulate new thinking about solutions to common imbalances. Several of the practical sessions will provide and in depth method to improve breath capacity, combining yoga practices with neuromuscular and somatics techniques.

The Structure and Function of Mind

How do we think, feel, and remember? How do we develop ourselves to attain the intuitive knowledge of the mystics? Dr. Buegel will integrate modern psychological models of the mind with the ancient model of mind defined by yoga philosophy.

Dr. Buegel will also offer:

Introduction to Holistic Health and Its Approach to Imbalance

Models of integrative medicine and complementary treatment modalities were long emphasized by the yoga traditions of the world. Come explore how the various medical systems of the world view and work with the human organism.

Holistic Approach to Improving Breath Capacity and Endurance

Whether you have a respiratory condition, such as asthma, or simply wish to improve your wind and endurance, ayurvedic techniques and yoga practices have much to offer. Be prepared to stretch in comfortable attire with a combination of yoga and neuromuscular techniques designed to increase breath capacity. Ayurvedic approach to restrictive airway disorders will also be presented.

Holistic Approach to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

This workshop will emphasize natural solutions for improving sleep, reducing inflammation, reducing spasm, and managing pain levels. Please bring your questions.

Breath Practices to Increase Oxygen to the Brain

Yoga has specific practices to increase oxygen to the brain. Techniques such as kapalabhati and ujjayi breathing will be demonstrated and taught in addition to diaphragmatic breathing. Attendance of the workshop “Holistic Approach to improving Breath Capacity and Endurance” prior to this session will help you get more out of this session.

Meditation and Self Healing

This session will emphasize methods of meditation suitable for balancing emotions as well as meditations designed to help with physical problems.

Food Sadhana

One of Ragani’s band members once said, “Eat muffin, look like muffin.” Much of what we can do to help ourselves develop in life can be influenced by the way we take the offerings of the world into our bodies. Come learn the process of how we begin to study our habits with food.

Neuromuscular Workshop

This three part series will integrate neuromuscular and somatics routines with yoga practice to address frequent trouble areas that often block the progress of yoga students. Many also find these routines helpful to preserve flexibility and symmetry during the pursuit of asymmetric muscular activity demanded by many sports and other activities of life.

George Geary (Visiting Cooking Teacher, La Cocina Que Canta)

George Geary CCP, a former chef for the Walt Disney Company teaches in over 100 culinary centers, food festivals and events. Prior to Disney, George worked at many of the major studios in Hollywood creating food for the movies and television shows. George is now working on his 5th book, The Complete Cheesecake Cookbook, due out the fall of this year, which follows his huge book: The Complete Baking Cookbook with over 350 recipes.

Besides teaching, you can see George on morning television throughout the country doing food segments for local and national shows. He also has a Culinary Tour Adventure company where he conducts tours for Fortune 500 Companies and food enthusiast to major cities of America and Europe. Over 4,000 students and clients have traveled to ends of the earth with George.

George offers three hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. An additional class will be added depending upon demand. These activities take place at La Cocina Que Canta. You also will have the opportunity to harvest produce you use from our organic garden, Tres Estrellas. Transportation will be provided.

For more information and registration, please click here.

Love Cycles | Linda Carroll, M.S.

Love Cycles with author and therapist Linda Carroll.

SESSION ONE. Relationships are explored as a series of stages through which we travel – from romantic bliss to rude awakening to disillusionment and sometimes despair until, finally and ideally, a resting place where love has grown deeper, richer and more settled. Each of the journeys described is based on a synthesis of the current literature on marriage, intimacy, biology, and poetry through the ages. This very popular short talk invites people in all stages of relationship, from single to those in a long-time commitment, to enjoy a witty, informative and fascinating exploration of love's path.

SESSION TWO. The Stages Defined. Decoding Love's Potion; Wisdom and Folly; How to Select an Appropriate Partner. The Inevitable Power Struggle; The Never Ending Loop; Learning the Counter-Instinctive Move; Finding Wholeness in a Difficult Relationship, on your Own or with Another.

SESSION THREE: Linda Carroll offers a surprise session which will sizzle with interest describing sexuality through the stages, covering issues of intimacy, passion and lagging libidos, as well as differences in desire. Linda will use anonymous questions and choose topics from her many years of experience as a "Hot Monogamy" therapist to create a lively and informative dialogue

A SESSION ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR WOMEN. For every woman interested in discovering a deeper connection with her essential self, Linda Carroll shares her own discoveries and wisdom gleaned from women's lives and art , especially poetry, to guide us on a seven-stage journey of recollection, reconnection, and recovery.

Linda Carroll has been a practicing therapist for 30 years, specializing in couples. In the nineties, she and her veterinarian husband, Tim Barraud, began to teach a couples' course based on the Imago process of Harville Hendrix, the PAIRS training of Dr. Lori Gordon, and their own insights, study and practices. They continue to offer retreats and seminars all over the world, and Linda is currently at work on a book project, Love's Cycles, based on this work. In 2006, her memoir, "Her Mother's Daughter," was published by Doubleday, and in 2008 Conari Press published "Remember Who You Are."